Portfolio: ProWriters becomes independent underwriter

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

ProWriters of West Chester, formerly a professional liability division of Venture Insurance Programs, has become an independent Managing General Underwriter. Brian Thornton, the new president of ProWriters and a 13-year veteran of the insurance industry, has acquired the program.

“ProWriters offers a strong value proposition for agents and brokers, as well as the carriers on whose behalf we write business,” Thornton said. “We are a specialized professional liability underwriting resource for agents and brokers, supported by tailored risk management services.”

On the web: www.prowritersins.com

PROJECT FUNDING: U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced 66 research projects selected by the Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency, or Energy ARPA-E, to receive a total of $130 million in funding through its “OPEN 2012” program.

One of three projects selected in Pennsylvania went to Silicon Power Corp. of Malvern. The company will receive more than $4.7 million to develop a semiconducting device that switches high power and high voltage electricity using optical signals. The device will use light to trigger control circuits or mechanisms more rapidly, simplifying the control of high-voltage equipment.

Unlike current switching mechanisms that predominately use silicon, Silicon Power’s device employs silicon carbide. Using the switches could improve high-power motors and renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar generators.

ARPA-E said it “seeks out transformational, breakthrough technologies that show fundamental technical promise but are too early for private-sector investment.”

In the other two Pennsylvania projects:

· Electron Energy Corp. in Landisville will receive over $2.9 million to develop a technology to manufacture permanent magnets that are both stronger and lower cost than those available today, based on a friction consolidation extrusion process.

· University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh will receive $2.4 million to develop a compound to thicken liquid carbon dioxide. This higher viscosity CO2 compound could be used to improve the performance of enhanced oil recovery and potentially replace water in hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells.

Nationally, the projects are based in 24 states, with approximately 47 percent of the projects led by universities, 29 percent by small businesses, 15 percent by large businesses, 7.5 percent by national labs, and 1.5 percent by non-profits. Wednesday’s announcement brings ARPA-E’s total portfolio of projects to about 285 with a total of approximately $770 million in awards.

TOYS: Valley Forge Casino Resort will hold a donation drive to benefit Chester County and Western Montgomery County Toys for Tots from Dec. 1 to Dec. 16. Guests are eligible to receive $5 in free slot play for every toy they donate.

Toys must be new and unwrapped, and presented to Valley Services.

CAR AUCTION: In the spirit of the holiday shopping season, the Pennsylvania Department of General Services will offer more than 470 vehicles on “Motor Monday,” Dec. 3, the final auction of the year.

In preparation for the event, DGS is encouraging the public to visit the Manheim Auto Auctions, at 488 Firehouse Road, Grantville, Dauphin County, to inspect the vehicles from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily starting on Thursday Nov. 29 through Sunday Dec. 2.

The auction will feature an assortment of seized vehicles from state law enforcement agencies including manufactures such as Lexus, Volvo, Mitsubishi and Cadillac. In addition, vehicles no longer used by state agencies from manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep and others will be up for bid.

The auction will begin at 10 a.m. on Dec. 3. Registration opens at 8 a.m. and closes at noon. All revenue generated will be returned to the commonwealth.